The term prostatitis refers to inflammation of the tissue of the prostate gland. It may occur as an appropriate physiological response to an infection, or it may occur in the absence of infection, or there may be no inflammation of the prostate at all. The causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments for chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome and acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis. Prostatitis, an inflamed and painful prostate gland, is a common condition. Learn some of the causes, symptoms and treatment of this condition. Prostatitis literally means inflammation of the prostate. Prostatitis is a frequently painful condition seen in 10-12% of men. It affects mostly young and middle-aged men. Prostatitis is a condition of the prostate gland most often linked with swelling and irritation, called inflammation. Prostatitis can make it painful or hard to urinate. It also may cause pain in the groin, pelvic area or genitals. Bacterial infections cause some but not all prostatitis. Chronic bacterial prostatitis is defined as a persistent bacterial infection of the prostate, typically presenting as recurrent UTIs from the same strain. Up to 74% of chronic bacterial prostatitis diagnoses are due to gram-negative organisms, such as E coli. Prostatitis can cause painful or uncomfortable symptoms, but various types of treatment can help. Prostatitis, or inflammation of the prostate, is more common than you might think - it accounts for roughly two million doctor visits every year. Prostatitis is most often caused by bacteria. They spread from the rectum or from infected urine. You can't get prostatitis from another person. It is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI). But it can result from several STIs. Who is at risk for prostatitis? You can get prostatitis at any age. But some things raise your risk: Prostatitis is a group of conditions that includes acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). It can cause infection, inflammation and pain in the prostate gland. Prostatitis is the most common urologic diagnosis in men younger than 50. While the prostate may indeed be a source of pelvic pain, it is likely that in many cases that pain in the male pelvis does not stem entirely (or in some cases at all) from issues with the prostate itself.